Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen could be removed from his current portfolio as part of a broader cabinet reshuffle expected to be announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa later this week, according to reports emerging from within the DA.
Food For Mzansi has reliably learnt that the DA has requested several changes to its representation in the Government of National Unity, including the reassignment of Steenhuisen from minister of agriculture to deputy minister of trade, industry and competition.
The reported move follows an internal review of the performance of DA ministers and deputy ministers. The assessment, led by senior party strategist Ryan Coetzee, allegedly concluded that some DA representatives in the executive were underperforming or lacked sufficient visibility in their portfolios.
Should the changes be approved by Ramaphosa, DA MP Willie Aucamp would take over as minister of agriculture, while Western Cape education MEC David Maynier is expected to become minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment.
The Presidency has not yet confirmed any cabinet changes.
FMD, staff problems haunt Steenhuisen
Steenhuisen’s tenure at the department of agriculture has been marked by ongoing challenges, most notably the country’s prolonged battle against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The minister has faced criticism from sections of the livestock industry over the government’s handling of the outbreak and the pace of interventions aimed at containing the disease.
Most recently, controversy erupted after an internal email from Steenhuisen’s chief of staff, Jana le Roux, was inadvertently sent to members of the livestock industry group FMD Response SA. In the correspondence, their calls for greater involvement in managing the crisis were reportedly dismissed as “amusing”, sparking outrage among producers already frustrated by the economic impact of the disease.
Alexandra Abrahams, currently deputy minister of trade, industry and competition, could move to the electricity and energy portfolio, while several other DA deputy ministers could also be replaced.
The anticipated changes are expected to be discussed by the DA’s federal executive before being formally submitted to the Presidency. Ramaphosa is also reportedly considering broader adjustments to the national executive.
Agricultural stakeholders will be watching developments closely, particularly at a time when the sector continues to grapple with animal disease outbreaks, biosecurity concerns, export market pressures and the need for stronger collaboration between government and industry.
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